Strange (Big Machine, 2026)

More than a social media flash in the pan, The Jack Wharff Band's second EP is a statement that they have staying power. Every song on "Strange" has something to offer, and a lot of that comes down to the band's raw, full-bodied sound of bluegrass country and rock. Evan Novoa's atmospheric guitar work and Garrett Howell's driving percussion do a lot of the heavy lifting. Together, they give the record this restless, kinetic energy.

What's impressive is that The Jack Wharff Band can lean this hard into Appalachian imagery, homesickness and worn-down reflection across five songs and never once have it feel repetitive. The whole EP carries the feel of a late-night set caught somewhere between a front-porch jam and a packed barroom singalong, a tricky balance to strike.

The title cut drifts by with a kind of lonely restraint, setting the tone without overstaying its welcome. "Virginia Can I Stay A While" then swings in the other direction, going all in on old-time energy with communal harmonies and rollicking acoustic drive. "Ole Virginia" and "A Month, A Week, A Day" both pulse with enough rhythmic force to keep the record from sinking into quiet nostalgia. Even the more subdued "Saved" sidesteps sentimentality through its earthy, spacious arrangement, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.

In the end, what makes "Strange" work isn't virtuosity. It's chemistry. The quartet, originally from Richmond, Va., knows when to push and when to step back, letting the music breathe without losing momentum. Wharff's vocals carry the weight of the material honestly, never overselling it. The songs feel lived in rather than polished, and that worn, honest quality gives "Strange" a staying power.